Sectional hat-box.



J. B. MACON.

SECTIONAL HAT BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 061.2, I9I4.

Patented May 8, 1917.

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JOSEPH B. MACON, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

SECTIONAL HAT-BOX.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

patented May 8, 193i?.

Application filed October 2, 1914. Serial No. 864,628.

To aZZ 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn B. Macon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pine Blu, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional- Hat- Boxes, oi which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention relates to hat boxes, and more particularly to an improved sectional box for storing and shipping hats.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a box composed of individual removable sections, adapted to each support a single hat, said sections acting each as a cover for the one immediately bcneath.

Another object is to provide a box composed of sections, any one of which may be removed at any time, without interfering with the operation of the box as a sectional container, or with the individual sections thereof.

A further object is to provide a sectional hat box in which the hats are individually supported7 each by one or' the sections, and out of contact with other hats, whereby danger of mashing or otherwise damaging or injuring the hat crowns or brims will be reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat box which will be simple, durable, eicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which- Figure l represents a vertical sectional View taken through a hat box constructed according to my invention, showing the same in assembled condition.

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the rim comprising a portion of each section.

Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the collar comprising a portion of each section.

Fig. a represents a perspective view of one of the sections of the box, the collar and c rim being removed.

The sectional hat box comprises a plurality of separate sections, identical in construction, and adapted to be stacked one upon another. Each section is vtermed or' three separable elements, namely, a body 5, a collar 6, and a rim or cover T. They may be made entirely of cardboard or ci any other suitable material.

The body is oval shaped, and is open at the top and bottoni. A neck S is formed for the body, by the insertion of a sleeve in the upper end thereof. rThe sleeve projects slightly above body 5 in order that the lower end oithe next section may be slipped upon the neck thus formed and bear against the shoulder 9 formed by the upper edge of body 5, in order to maintain said section in position. Thelower end of the sleeve is `pro vided with an inwardly projecting annular il ange 10 positioned approximately midway between the open ends or' the body, said flange affording a collar receiving opening l1. Sleeve S is secured in the body in any desirable manner such as by gluing.

The collar G is also open at both ends, and is slightly funnel shaped, and is provided midway its height with a plurality of prongs l2 stamped from the material of which the collar is made. The prongs are adapted to be bent outwardly as indicated in Fig. 3, so that when the collar is inserted in opening 1l, said prongs will engage flange 10 in order to provide a stop and rest for the collar.

Rim 7 comprises a band 13 having a top 14 in the form oi an inwardly extending annular flange whereby a central opening 15 is provided in the top. rThe band 13 is of smaller dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of sleeve 8, so that the band will snugly fit in the body of the section within the sleeve. The opening l5 in the top of the band is also of smaller dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of the open upper end of collar G, so that the inner edges oli the top will overhang the collar on all sides when the band is placed within the body.

Each section is adapted to support a single hat, in the manner indicated in Fig. l. A hat is placed within the section so that the crown thereof depends within the collar 6,

while the brim of the hat rests upon theupper edge of said collar. A pocket or insertion of tissue paper or other suitable material indicated at 16 may be placed within the collar in the manner indicated in l., so as to prevent access of dust or dirt to the Ato hat. 4rJ'She rim is placed within sleeve S, so that thetop 1a thereof will rest lightly upon the brim of the hat.' In this manner the hats contained in the sectional box are each independently supported and protected, and prevented from jostling against each other or against movement relative to the sections which contain them, which movement if not prevented might result in the abrading or rubbing of the hats to their injury.

The sections are disposed one above the other in the manner indicated, with the lower end of the body of one section snugly fitting the sleeve 8 of the next lower section and resting upon the shoulder 9. The parts are so proportioned that while the collar of a. higher section depends within the next lower section, it does not come in contact with any portion thereof.

Certain sections when manufactured may if desired be provided with a bottom 17, it being the idea that these sections will form the lowermost of the stacks comprising the sectional boxes. One cover is provided for each stack or sectional box, and is indicated in Fig. 1 at 18. The cover is provided with a depending peripheral flange 19 adapted to engage over the upper end of the topmost section.

1t will be noted that each individual box or section acts as a cover or lid for the next lower section, to prevent the entrance of deleterious substance to the lower sections. The telescoping connection between the sections provides a practically dust proof joint.

One of the great advantages accruing to my inventionis the fact that any section or individual box may be removed from the stack without disturbing the contents of the remaining sections, and without interfering with the cooperative relation of the remaining elements of the stack, since the section above that removed may be lowered into its place, so that the identity of the stack formed of cooperating parts, as such, will not be interfered with or destroyed.

As many individual sections may be arranged in a stack as the height of the store room or cabinet in which the hats are to be placed will allow. If so desired each stack or sectional box may be consigned to a particular solid size of hats, that is all the hats in that particular stach may be of the same size. However, it is not necessary that this ar angemenet of storing be carried out, as the particular' manner of distributing the various sizes of hats is of course optional in each case.

rThe advantages of my invention over the present most general manner of boxing` hats, will become immediately apparent when it is understood that the present method consists generally in the stacking of three or more hats in a single box, with a small collar between the brims of the hats. This method ofttimes results in the crushing` and abrasion of the crowns and outside bands of the hats. VFurthermore in removing any of the lower hats in the box the upper ones must be first removed and in this manner, many hats are ruined by repeated handling.

Another advantage in the use of my improved sectional box is the fact that all the space in the store roem or show case or other place where the hats are to be placed may be utilized, since only those sections which contain hats may be left in the stacks. Much waste space results from the old method, from the fact that although the box may be empty except for one hat, yet the box must be left in its place.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts thereof as do not depart from the spirit of the invention vand the scope of the appended claims.

l claim 1. A hat box composed of a plurality of sections stacked one upon another, each section including a body, said body being open at top and bottom, a sleeve disposed in the upper end of the body and projecting above the same, an inwardly extending annular flange provided on the lower end of said sleeve and disposed horizontally in the body and midway between the ends thereof, a substantially conical collar adapted to be disposed within tlie body and having prongs struck therefrom and adapted to engage said flange to provide a stop and rest for the collar, a rim, said rim comprising a band adapted to fit snugly within the sleeve, said band provided with a top having a central opening therein of smaller dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of the collar, whereby said top may overhang the collar on all sides, said collar adapted to receive the crown of a hat, the rim of the latter adapted to be disposed upon the upper edge of the collar between the same and the top of said'rim, substantially as described.

2. A hat box comprising a plurality of individual sections stacked one upon another, each section comprising a hollow body, a flange arranged therein, a collar supported on the flange and adapted to receive a hat, and a rim including a band snugly tting in the body above the flange, and means carried. j

by the band for overlying the brim of the hat.

3. A. sectional hat box comprisin i a plurality of individual sections stac red one upon another, each section including a hollow body, a collar, and a'rim, said body, collar and rim being separable, cooperating means between the collar and body for supporting the former within the latter, said collar adapted to receive a hat, said rim adapted to lit Within the body above the collar7 said'collar, rim and body adapted to support said hat against movement relative to the section.

4. A hat box comprising a plurality of sections stacked one upon the other, each section including a body having a sleeve therein projecting at its upper portion above the upper edge of the body and having an inturned flange positioned Within the body, a collar extending through the opening de- Copies of this: patent may be obtained for five cents each,

fined by the flange and having means engaging the Aflange 'for detachably retaining the collar n position thereon, and a rim detachably fitting in the body above the said inturned liange and including means overlying the collar at a distance therefrom.

JOSEPH B. MACON. Witnesses:

THOMAS B. LYLE, V. Gr. VEBB.

Washington, D. C.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, v 

